We try to include an “I Love You Ritual” in EVERY Little Learner’s Kindermusik class. Your educator should have been teaching you this year’s ritual “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in class the last couple of weeks. This ritual is an opportunity for you to slow down and be present with your little one. These are the brain-child of Dr. Becky Bailey of Conscious Discipline.
Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based and trauma informed practice of social emotional learning. It utilizes every-day activities to teach adults and children emotional intelligence and self-regulation.
One of the basic tenets of Conscious Discipline is that connection must come before correction. Additionally, Conscious Discipline teaches that connection breeds cooperation.
CONNECTION is one of Song of the Heart Studio’s values, and you will find it up on our walls, we believe in it so much! It is one of the foundational pillars of all we do in our studio and try to promote in every class.
I Love You Rituals are simply a tool that develops that connection between you and your little one. In order for the ritual to work and truly develop and nurture connection you need certain elements:
- Presence
- Eye contact
- Safe, intentional touch
- Playfulness
Any short song or game can become an I Love You Ritual when used consistently, with these elements at play. Last year we used “Rock-a-bye Sweetheart” and as mentioned above, this year we are using “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” You can also use nursery rhymes like “This Little Piggy Went to Market.”
When you engage in just 5 minutes of connected play with your child each day, you can decrease power struggles and increase cooperation by up to 50%! That is a HUGE return on investment.
This is partly achieved by how the ritual hacks your brain chemistry by promoting the natural production of what we call “Joy Juice”, a hormonal cocktail of serotonin, dopamine, and other feel-good hormones.
Enjoy this short video from Conscious Discipline and learn more about the power and purpose of this simple routine.
